Brick-machine



(No Model.) 8 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' R. F. ROBISON.

, BRIOK MACHINE.

No. 399,698. PatentedlVIam. 19, 1889.

. awn/1W flobertmbi 80721 adzwz,

N. PETERS Photo-Llihograplwn Washmglon, D. C.

(No Model.) 4 'SheetsSheet 2.

R. F. ROBISON.

- BRICK MACHINE.

Nb. 399,698. Patented Mar. 19,1889

N. PETERS Phokmblhcgrapher Wnhinmm. D. C.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. P. ROBISON.

BRICK MAGHINE.

No. 399,698. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

fig. 3.

, fitter/M1 4,

u. PETERS, Prwwumu pmr. Wzahington, me,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

I R. F. ROBISON.

BRIGK MAGEINE.

Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

Hm. HHHHHM H M /Z M 9 ammwa,

N PETERS. Phnlo-l-lulographur, Washlngtan, D, C.

witness a0 ll'rmnn rricn.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,698, dated March 19, 1889.

Serial No. 286,965. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that 1, ROBERT F. RoBrsoN, of Kansas City, in the county of \Vyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new useful Improvements in Brick-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The improved machine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of one side of the machine. Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite side thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view with the feed-hopperremoved. Fig. 4c is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal transverse section in a plane indicated by the line 5 5 in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the engaging and disengaging gearing.

The machine comprises in its general c011- struction a supporting frame-work, A, having a series of molding-compartments,B B, side by side at one end of the machine, a feedhopper, C, communicating with all of the moldingcompartments and above the same, a series of horizontally-reciprocating pressers, D D, one for each of said molding-compartments, a vertically-reciprocating cover, E, which closes all of the molding-compartments during the pressing of the bricks, a series of vertically-reciprocating followers, F F, which lift the finished bricks from the several molding-compartments, a receivingtable, G, fixed to the frame-work upon which the finished bricks are discharged, a series of swinging fingers, H H, which push the finished bricks from the followers onto the receiving-table, and mechanism for actuating the several movable parts and insuring their proper action. I

In the operation of the machine a complete brick is made in each molding-compartment at each sequence of operations, and the machine may be made with any number of moldin g-compartments, with their accessory parts, depending upon the business of the establishment running the machine.

In the accompanying drawings the machine is shown with only two molding compartments; but this is for the purpose of illustration only, since the invention is not limited to any particular number of the compartments.

The reciprocation of the pressers D D in the molding compartments effects the molding and pressing of the bricks, pressing the clay or other material from which the bricks are to be made against the fixed end walls, a a, of the molding-compartments. The feed-hopper 0 above the molding-compartments is filled with the clay or dirt after the same has been properly pulverized, and when the pressers D D are moved backward the pulverized clay is fed into the compartments by its own weight. When the pressers are moved forward to press the clay into bricks, they cut off communication between the hopper and the molding compartments, so that the clay is not fed from the hopper duringthe pressing of the bricks. The compartments are filled each time with the clay when the pressers are moved backward, so that they constitute measuring-receptacles for the clay, thus insuring uniformity in the density and quality of the finished bricks.

hen the forward movement of the pressers D D commences, the portions of the compartments next the fixed-ends a a are occupied by the vertically-reciprocating followers F F, which then occupy their highest position, having been moved thereto to discharge the bricks previously made. During the first part of the forward movement of the pressers D the followers F are depressed, so that their upper surfaces are flush with the upper surfaces of the fixed bottoms b b of the moldingcompartments, the followers thus constituting a part of the bottoms of the compartments; also, during the first part of the forward movement of the pressers the vertically-reciprocating cover E is depressed, so as to cover the open tops of the compartments, thus completely closing the compartments during the pressing of the bricks. The cover is locked in this position during the pressing operation by suitable means, which will hereinafter be specifically described. Each moldingcompartment, it will thus be seen, has a fixed end wall, a, two fixed side Wal1s,c c, abottom composed of a fixed part, b, and the upper surface of the follower during the pressing operation. The moving presser constitutes the other end of the compartment, and the compartment is covered by the movable cover through part of its extent and communicates with the hopper through the remainder of its extent. When the bricks have been compressed, the pressers move backward, and during their backward movement the cover is unlocked and raised, and the followers are also raised, lifting with them the finished bricks to a level with the receiving-table G. The swinging fingers H H thus move the bricks from the followers onto the receiving-table and the sequence of operations is complete.

The mechanism for actuating the several movable parts in the proper sequence is as follows: I is the main drive-shaft of the machine, carrying a fly-wheel, J, and is rotated by connection with any source of power. This drive rotates a crankshaft, K, which actuates the several parts of the machine by suitable connections therewith. The drive-shaft is connected with the crank-shaft by intermediate gearing, which drives the crank-shaft at a speed considerably lower than that of the drive-shaft. This gearing consists of a small pinion, d, on the drive-shaft, a large pinion, e, on the. crank-shaft, and a large interme diate pinion, f, and small intermediate pinion, g, connected together and rotating on a shaft, h, the large pinion f meshing with the pinion d and the small pinion gmeshing with the pinion e.

The shaft h has eccentric studs 7; 11, adapted to turn in suitable bearings, and to one of said studs is secured a shifting-lever, j, by means of which the shaft h may be rotated and the connected pinions be engaged or disengaged with the pinions on the drive and crank shaft. By this means the machine may be stopped or started at will.

The number of cranks on the crank-shaft will be determined by the number of the pressers to be operated therefrom. With two pressers, as shown, one crank, 70, is sufficient, and the crank is embraced by one end of a connecting-rod, L, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to and between the two pressers D D. The extent of the throw of the crank will be determined by the desired extent of the reciprocation of the pressers.

The manner of gearing just described enables great pressure to be brought to bear upon the pressers proportional to the horsepower employed, and the machine can also work with great rapidity.

The vertically-reciprocating followers F F have pivoted to and between them one end of an oscillating lever, M, which oscillates beneath the connecting-rod L upon a fixed shaft, Z, mounted in the frame-work. The other end of the lever is pivotally connected with the lower end of a vertically-extending connecting-bar, N, which at its upper end is formed with a longitudinally-extending vertical slot, on, which embraces a fixed stud, n, on the connecting-rod L near the point where the latter is connected with the crank. The crankshaft rotates in the direction of the arrow 0, so that when the pressers are at their backward position and the followers are elevated the first forward movement of the crank will also be an upward one. This upward movement will lift the end of the connectingrod near the crank, and so raise the bar N and the end of the lever M to which the bar is connected, thus depressing the other end of the lever M and the followers. On the back ward movement of the pressers the parts are operated in the opposite direction, thus lifting the followers. The slotted connection betweenthe bar N and the connecting-rod L permits the reciprocation of the connectingrod without its affecting the lever M, and also permits the lever M to be at rest during a portion of the movement of the pressers while they are completing the compression of the bricks.

The vertically-reciprocating cover E slides upon vertical guide-rods p p on each side of the frame-work. Pivotally connected to 0p posite'ends of the cover are levers O 0, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to the ends of crank-arms P P, fixed to opposite ends of a transverse rock-shaft, Q, having bearings in opposite sides of the frame-work. This rock-shaft has a central crank-arn1,q, fixed thereto, the end of which is pivotally connected with one end of a connecting-bar, R. The other end of this bar has an upwvardly-inclined cam-slot, 0, which embraces a stud, 3, fixed to the connecting-rod L near the connection thereof with the crank-shaft. The reciprocation of the connecting-rod L causes the bar R to move back and forth, thus rocking the shaft Q and raising and lowering the cover, the forward movement of the rod L lowering the cover, and vice versa. The slotted connection between the rod L and bar R permits the latter to remain stationary during a portion of the movement of the crankshaft.

The cover is locked when in its lowermost position by means of locking-slides S S, sliding on opposite sides of the frame-work. Each of these slides has a projecting locking-tongue, t, which slides directly over a projecting stud, a, on the end of the cover, so that the cover cannot be lifted until the locking-slides are moved away. The locking-slides are connected with eccentric studs 0 'v on opposite ends of the crank-shaft by connecting-bars T T. The eccentric studs are so located that the cover will be locked while the pressers are exercising their maximum pressure.

The fingers H H, for removing the finished bricks, are fixed to a transverse rock-shaft, U, mounted in bearings on the hopper above the cover E. These fingers normally hang by their own weight against the hopper out of the path of the cover. Fixed to the rockshaft is a projecting arm, V, which extends outward over the cover and in the path thereof. When the cover is raised, it comes in contact with the arm V, raising the same, thus rocking the shaft U and projecting the lower ends of the fingers H H forward against the bricks on the followers, thus forcing the bricks onto the receiving-table.

This machine is cheap and simple in its construction, all of its movements are positive and automatic, it is capable of very rapid work, and at the same time it enables a great pressure to be brought to bear on the bricks, thus insuring their compactness and uniform density.

I claim as my invention 1. In a brick-making machine, a moldingcompartment having an open top and a feedhopper above said compartment communicating therewith, in combination with a horizontallyreciprocating presser moving in said compartment and beneath said hopper, said presser constituting one end of said compartment and controlling the communication between said compartment and hopper, a verticall y-reciprocating cover which opens and closes the open top of said compartment, a vertically-reciprocating follower which reciprocates crosswise of the compartment beneath said cover, and which lifts the finished bricks out from said compartment, and a swinging finger which swings between said cover and said follower when the same are elevated, and which removes the bricks from said follower, substantially as set forth.

2. In a brick-making machine, the brickforming mechanism thereof, in combination with a crank-shaft which actuatcs said mechanism, a large pinion, e, on said shaft, a rotating drive-shaft, a small pinion, cl, thereon, and a large pinion, f, and a small pinion, g,

connected so as to rotate together, said large pinion f meshing with the small pinion (Z in the drive-shaft, and said small pinion g meshing with said large pinion c on the crankshaft, substantially as set forth.

3. In a brick-making machine, the brickforming mechanism thereof, a crank-shaft which actuates said mechanism, a large pinion, a, on said shaft, a rotating drive-shaft, and a small pinion, d, thereon, in combination with a rotatable shaft, 7i, having eccentric bearing-studs i 'L', a shiftinglever for rotating said shaft, and a large pinion, f, and a small pinion, connected together and rotating on said shaft h, said pinions fand g co-operating with said pinions (Z and e, respectively, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a brickqnaking machine, a moldingcompartment, a reciprocating presser moving in said compartment, and a vertically-reciprocating follower moving crosswise of said compartment, in combination with a rotating crank-shaft, a connecting-rod connecting the crank of said shaft with said presser, an oscillating lever connected at one end with said follower, and a connecting-bar connected at one end with said oscillating lever and at the other end with said connecting-rod near the crank-shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. In a brick-making machine, a moldingcompartment, a horizontally reciprocating presser moving therein, and a vertically-reciprocatin g follower moving crosswise of said compartment, in combination with a rotating crank-shaft, a connecting-rod connecting the crank of said shaft with said presser, a stud, n, 011 said rod near said crank, an oscillating lever connected at one end with said follower and extending beneath said. connecting-rod,-

and a vertically-extendin g bar pivotally connected at its lower end with the end of said oscillating lever, and having a longitudinallyextending slot in its upper end embracing said stud on said connecting-rod, substantially as set forth.

6. In a brick-making machine, a moldingcompartment having an open top, a reciprocating presser moving in said compartment, and a vertically-reciprocating cover which opens and closes the open top of said compartment, in combination with a 4 rotating crank-shaft, a connecting-rod connecting the crank of said shaft with said presser, a rockshaft beneath said compartment, said rockshaft having a central crank-arm, q, and crankarms P P on its ends, a connecting-bar, R, connecting said crank-arm q and said connecting-rod, and levers O 0, connecting said crank-arms P P and said cover, substantially as set forth.

7. 111 a brick-making machine, a moldingcompartment having an open top, a reciprocating presser moving in said compartment, and a verticallyreciprocating cover which opens and closes the open top of said compartment, in combination with a rotating crank-shaft, a connecting-rod connecting the crank of said shaft with said presser, a stud, s, on said connecting-rod, a rock-shaft beneath said compartment, said rock-shaft having central crank-arm, q, and end crank-arms, P P, levers O 0, connecting said crank-arms P P and said cover, and a connecting-bar, R, connected at one end to said crank-arm q, and having at its other end a cam-slot, r, embracing said stud s, substantially as set forth.

8. In a brick-making machine, a moldingcompartment having an open top and a vertically-reciprocating cover which opens and closes said open top, said cover having proj ecting studs a on opposite ends, in combination with lockingslides having projecting locking-tongues 251, adapted to said studs u, a rotating shaft, eccentric studs 011 said shaft, and bars T T, connecting said eccentric studs and said locking-slides, substantially as set forth.

9. In a brickanaking machine, a moldingcompartment having an open top, a vertically-reciprocating cover which opens and closes said open top, and a vertically-reciprocating follower moving crosswise of said compartment beneath said cover, in combination with a rock-shaft, U,a downwardly-depending finger, H, thereupon, said finger being adapted to swing between said cover and said IIO follower when the same are elevated, and an my name in the presence of two subscribing arm, V, on said rock-shaft projecting outwitnesses. wardly above said cover and in the path thereof, substantially as set forth, whereby ROBERT ROBISON' 5 said shaft is rocked by the contact of said Witnesses:

cover with said projecting arm. E. D. STREETER,. In witness whereof I have hereunto signed W. J. ()TWELL. 

